Scott Brown's Twelve Enduring Misconceptions About "To Theodore" Misconception #5: There Is Something Homoerotic about Jesus and the Young Man Spending the Night Together

The debate over the young man's nocturnal encounter with Jesus in the mystical Gospel of Mark, as discussed in the Letter to Theodore attributed to Clement of Alexandria, has often been clouded by modern interpretations that lean towards suggesting a homoerotic undertone. Scott Brown critiques this interpretation, highlighting the historical and linguistic context that refutes such claims.

The controversy stems from translations and interpretations that suggest a sexual connotation in the phrase "and he spent the night with him" (Letter to Theodore II.6). This phrase has been paraphrased in modern translations and commentaries, such as the Jesus Seminar's Scholars Version, which rendered it as "He spent that night with him, because Jesus taught him the mystery of God’s domain" (Koester and Patterson). Critics like Donald Akenson have even used this paraphrase to suggest a humorous or ironic sexual encounter between Jesus and the young man, mocking scholars who take the text seriously (Akenson 2002, 88).

Brown argues against this interpretation by delving into the linguistic nuances of the Greek text and the historical context of ancient literary conventions. He points out that the verb used, "ἔμεινε" (emene), which means "remained" or "stayed," does not inherently imply a sexual encounter. Instead, it signifies that the young man stayed with Jesus throughout the night because Jesus was instructing him in the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Mark 4:10–12).

Moreover, Brown critiques the translation choices that introduce a modern euphemism ("spent the night with") where the original Greek does not explicitly suggest such a meaning. He highlights the syntactical considerations and the use of the verb "menō" in its intransitive form, emphasizing that it denotes continuation or persistence rather than waiting in anticipation of a specific event, as a transitive form would imply.

The scholarly debate surrounding this phrase reflects broader interpretative challenges in ancient texts, particularly those that touch on sensitive topics in contemporary discourse. By contextualizing the phrase within the mystical Gospel of Mark and Clement's theological framework, Brown argues for a more nuanced understanding that respects the historical and literary conventions of the time.

In conclusion, Scott Brown's critique challenges the misconception that the phrase "spent the night with him" in the mystical Gospel of Mark implies something homoerotic. He advocates for a careful consideration of linguistic, syntactical, and historical factors to avoid imposing modern interpretations onto ancient texts, thereby enriching scholarly dialogue and understanding.

For further insights into Scott Brown's analysis of early Christian texts and their interpretations, explore his detailed study here: Scott Brown's Paper on "To Theodore".

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